LETTERS: Take the time that’s needed

Below is an excerpt from the town charter re: the town manager’s appointment. It is clear that the council can appoint an acting manager for up to six months – in this case, June 15, 2012.

Patriot Staff

Below is an excerpt from the town charter re: the town manager’s appointment. It is clear that the council can appoint an acting manager for up to six months – in this case, June 15, 2012.

While the maximum term allowed for an acting manager is clear, I did not find any reference in the charter pertaining to the term of the manager’s contract. It does not say that the length must be a year or three years or even three months.

Given that there are no term limits, short or long, on the manager’s contract, the council could, if it needs more time, promote the acting manager to be manager. The council could then approve a short-term manager contract for a few more months. That would allow ample time beyond the remaining four months of the acting town manager’s term to accomplish a professional search and hiring of our next town manager.

I, and many people who have spoken with me, believe that the council has an obligation to seek the best candidate available for our manager’s job. To accomplish that, the council needs to embrace an extended, professional search.

The council’s manager subcommittee appears to have already decided on a course of conduct designed to ensure that the acting town manager will get the permanent job. I trust that the full council will carry out this most important part of its responsibilities honestly and effectively for the future best interest of our town.

Please do the proper thing and enact a more comprehensive search for our new CEO. Barnstable’s residents deserve nothing less than the best candidate for the job.